(Los Angeles, CA)  --  The Trail Blazers will be back in action when they visit the Clippers tonight in Los Angeles.  That is the opener of a three-game trip for Portland.  The Trail Blazers are 40-and-26 on the season.  Damian Lillard needs only 23 points to move into second place on the Blazers' all-time scoring list.

 

The Trail Blazers, who just split a two-game homestand, are beginning a three-game road trip that includes visits to the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs.

 

"It would have been nice to get a little more time at home, but that's life," shooting guard CJ McCollum told reporters after practice Monday. "You got to be ready to get back on the road, win a lot of games on the road against tough teams, teams that need every game. We've got to make sure we're ready to play." McCollum scored 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting Saturday in Portland's 127-120 victory over the Phoenix Suns. It marked his third straight game with 25 or more points. McCollum is averaging 22.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in three games  against the Clippers this season.

 

Point guard Damian Lillard has been even better with an average of 31.3 points in those three
contests. Lillard scored 18 points against the Suns two nights after exploding for a season-best 51 points during a 129-121 overtime loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 50-point effort was the fifth of Lillard's career.

Lillard (12,540 career points) needs 23 points to pass LaMarcus Aldridge as the second-leading scorer in franchise history. Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler (18,040) is Portland's all-time leader.

 

Blazers shooting guard Rodney Hood (hip) and swingman Evan Turner (knee) are both questionable for the Tuesday game.

 

The Trail Blazers have notched three consecutive road wins over the Clippers, including a 131-127 victory on Dec. 17.